Apparatus for providing a controlled propulsion of elements toward a receiving member

ABSTRACT

A transmitter disposed on the hand of an individual sends signals when a switch also disposed on the individual&#39;s hand is manually actuated between first and second states. The switch may be disposed on one of the individual&#39;s fingers and the transmitter may be formed from integrated circuits and may be disposed on the individual&#39;s wrist. The signals from the transmitter are received by apparatus which propels elements (e.g. balls) toward the individual. The individual then attempts to hit the element with a member such as a bat.

[0001] This invention relates to apparatus for providing an individual with an opportunity to practice receiving or hitting an element such as a ball. For example, the invention relates to apparatus which propels balls toward a batter so that the batter can practice hitting the propelled balls with a member such as a bat. The invention is particularly advantageous because the batter can control when the ball is propelled toward the batter and can practice catching or hitting the propelled ball.

BACKGROUND OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Many youngsters are interested in improving their skills in hitting a baseball. Because of this, machines have been provided on a commercial basis for pitching balls to a batter. The batter positions himself or herself in a batting cage and the machine then transmits a plurality of balls in a sequence to the batter. The batter pays for this by inserting coins into a coin box or by paying a cashier.

[0003] There are at least three (3) problems with the arrangement described in the previous paragraph. One problem is that the batter cannot control when successive balls are propelled to the batter by the pitching machine. Another problem is that the batter has to travel to the site of the pitching machine. This is an inconvenience to the batter. A third disadvantage is that the pitching machines propel the balls at a high velocity toward the batter. This may be advantageous to teenagers and adults but it is not advantageous to pre-teenagers.

[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 6,190,271 B1 licensed to the assignee of record of this application discloses and claims an apparatus for overcoming the disadvantages discussed in the previous paragraph. The apparatus in U.S. Pat. No. 6,190,271 B1 provides for a control by an individual (e.g. a batter) of the times when a machine propels an element (e.g. a ball) to an individual (e.g. a batter) so that the individual can swing a member (e.g. a bat) against the ball. The apparatus of this invention is portable even by pre-teenagers so that the individual operating the member (e.g. the bat) can practice anywhere including the individual's backyard or a friend's backyard. The apparatus of this invention is especially designed to be used by pre-teenagers.

[0005] Although a pitching machine is shown in the drawings of U.S. Pat. No. 6,190,271 B1 to be a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be appreciated by persons of ordinary skill in the art that other embodiments are within the scope of the invention. For example, the apparatus of this invention can be adapted to propel hockey pucks to a player holding a hockey stick or to propel lacrosse balls to a player holding a lacrosse stick.

[0006] In one embodiment of the invention disclosed and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,190,271 B1, a member (e.g. a baseball bat) includes a switch disposed on the member and manually operable to obtain the transmission of signals from a transmitter in the member to the apparatus which propels an element (e.g. a ball) toward an individual holding the member when the apparatus receives the signals transmitted from the member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0007] A transmitter disposed on the hand of an individual sends signals when a switch also disposed on the individual's hand is manually actuated between first and second states. The switch may be disposed on one of the individual's fingers and the transmitter may be formed from integrated circuits and may be disposed on the individual's wrist. The signals from the transmitter are received by apparatus which propels elements (e.g. balls) toward the individual. The individual then attempts to hit the element with a member such as a bat.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] In the drawings:

[0009]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of (1) a baseball bat and the hands of an individual swinging the bat to hit a ball propelled toward the bat, (2) pitching apparatus for propelling the ball toward the bat and (3) the movement of the ball from the pitching apparatus toward the bat;

[0010]FIG. 2 is a sectional view in elevation of the pitching apparatus shown in FIG. 1 as seen from a position in front of the apparatus;

[0011]FIG. 3 is an elevational view, partially in section, of the pitching apparatus as seen from a position to one side of the apparatus;

[0012]FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view in elevation of the bat and includes a switch disposed on the bat and manually operable to provide for a transmission of signals from the bat to the pitching apparatus;

[0013]FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a transmitter in the bat for transmitting signals to the pitching apparatus upon the closure of the switch in FIG. 4 and a block diagram of a receiver in the pitching apparatus for receiving the signals transmitted from the bat and for activating the pitching apparatus to propel a ball toward the bat;

[0014]FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an electrical circuit for energizing motors in the pitching apparatus when a ball is disposed in the pitching apparatus, thereby providing for the propulsion of the ball from the pitching apparatus when the receiver receives signals from the transmitter;

[0015]FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention and shows a hand held switch, preferably on a finger of the batter, for activation by the batter and a hand-held transmitter, preferably on the wrist of the batter, for transmitting signals to the propulsion mechanism shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 when the switch is activated;

[0016]FIG. 8 is a schematic circuit diagram which includes the switch and the transmitter shown in FIG. 7; and

[0017]FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view in elevation, similar to that shown in FIG. 2, of a modified apparatus for propelling an element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0018] In one embodiment of a system shown in FIGS. 1-6 of U.S. Pat. No. 6,190,271 B1, apparatus generally indicated at 10 (FIG. 1) is provided for propelling an element (e.g. a ball 12) toward a member (e.g. a bat generally indicated at 14). The ball 12 may be a hard or a soft ball generally provided for baseball games. Preferably the ball is a hollow plastic ball having a light weight and constructed to limit the speed of the ball and the distance of travel of the ball. This ball is advantageous when the hitter is a child generally less than ten (10) years old.

[0019] A switch 16 (FIG. 4) is provided on the bat 14, preferably at a position above the positions on the handle portion where the batter's hands 18 grip the bat when the batter is swinging at the ball 12. The switch 16 is depressed by the batter when the batter desires to have the apparatus 10 propel the ball 12 toward the batter.

[0020] A transmitter generally indicated at 20 in FIG. 5 is disposed in the bat 14 to transmit signals to the pitching apparatus for obtaining the propulsion of the ball 12 by the pitching apparatus toward the bat 14. In one embodiment, the transmitter 20 may include an oscillator 22 for producing signals at a particular frequency such as approximately thirty-two megahertz (32 MHz). The oscillator 22 may be crystal controlled.

[0021] The signals from the oscillator 22 may be amplified at 24 and the amplified signals may be introduced to an antenna 26 which may be provided with an impedance preferably matching the impedance of the amplifier 24. An energy source such as a battery 28 (FIG. 4) may be removably disposed in the bottom 30 of the bat to energize the transmitter 20. Since the signals are transmitted by the antenna 26, they are transmitted on a wireless basis.

[0022] A receiver generally indicated at 32 in FIG. 5 may be disposed in the pitching apparatus 10 to receive the signals transmitted from the bat 14. The receiver 32 may include an antenna 34 which may be in the form of a coil. Since the receiver 32 includes an antenna 34, the signals are received on a wireless basis by the receiver. Amplifiers 36 may be provided to amplify the received signals. The amplified signals may then be mixed at 38 and the mixed signals may then be detected at 40 to recover the signals at thirty-two megahertz (32 MHz). The detected signals may then be introduced to a driver 42.

[0023] The apparatus 10 includes a base member 50 (FIGS. 1-3) and a housing 52 pivotably attached on a horizontal axis to the base member as at 54. The base member is adapted to be supported on a support surface such as the ground. The base member 54 is adapted to hold a transportable energy source such as a battery 56.

[0024] The housing 52 is provided with a hollow passage 58. Holes 60 may be provided in the housing 52 at progressive positions along the passage 58, primarily for aesthetic purposes. The ball 12 is adapted to be disposed in the hollow passage 58 against a plurality of annularly spaced fingers 62 in a rotatable detainer 64 disposed in the housing 52 and having a shape such as a star wheel. The detainer 64 is normally engaged by a release mechanism 65 which is actuated to be withdrawn from engagement with the detainer when a solenoid 66 is energized.

[0025] The hollow passage 58 is initially disposed vertically and is progressively curved at progressive downward positions to have a horizontal disposition. A pair of pockets 70 are disposed in the housing 52 at the opposite sides of the housing at positions where the hollow passage 58 is substantially horizontal. A pair of motors 74 and a pair of actuators such as rollers 76 are provided.

[0026] The motor 74 and the roller 76 in each individual one of the pockets 70 are operatively coupled to each other to provide a rotation of the roller in accordance with the energizing of the motor. The rollers 76 are preferably made from a resilient material and are preferably extended into the hollow passage 58 to grip the opposite ends of the ball 12 in the passage and to propel the ball from the passage in accordance with the rotation of the rollers. The motors 74 and the rollers 76 may be considered as a propulsion mechanism.

[0027] The battery 56 and the motors 74 are disposed in a series circuit (FIG. 6) with a normally open switch 78. The switch 78 becomes closed when the ball 12 is disposed on one of the fingers 62 of the detainer 64. The closure of the switch 78 at such time results from the fact that each finger 62 has some play in its positioning. This causes each finger 62 to be disposed upwardly, with no ball on the finger, from the position which it occupies when the ball 12 is disposed on the finger. In the upward position of the finger 62, the switch 78 is open.

[0028] In this way, the motors 74 are energized only when the ball 12 is in the hollow passage 58 in a position to be propelled from the hollow passage when a signal from the transmitter 20 is received by the receiver 32. Furthermore, energy is conserved in the battery 56 to prolong the life of the battery since the battery provides energy to the motors 74 only when the ball 12 is disposed in the hollow passage 58.

[0029] The housing 52 is provided at its top end with a stanchion. A tube 82 forming part of a ramp generally indicated at 84 fits snugly on the stanchion in a removable relationship to the stanchion. The ramp 84 defines an inclined track 86 extending in a spiral path to a position at its bottom end above the hollow passage 58. A plurality of the balls 12 are disposed on the track 86 for a movement of each ball in sequence into the hollow passage 58 when the ball previously in the hollow passage is propelled by the rollers 76 from the passage toward the batter holding the bat 14.

[0030] Assume that the ramp 84 is disposed on the stanchion at the top of the housing 52 and that one of the balls 12 on the track 86 has dropped into the hollow passage 58 for disposition on the finger 62 extending into the hollow passage. This causes the finger 62 on the detainer 64 to be positioned to close the switch 78 in FIG. 6 and the motors 74 to be energized. The resultant rotation of the rollers 76 provides for the propulsion of the ball from the hollow passage 58 when the ball is released by the detainer 64.

[0031] When the batter manually closes the switch 16 in FIG. 4, signals are transmitted by the transmitter 20 in FIG. 5 to the receiver 32 in FIG. 5. This causes the solenoid 66 (FIG. 3) to be energized and the release mechanism 65 to be retracted from the detainer 64. The detainer 64 is now free to be rotated in a counterclockwise direction by the ball 12 on the finger 62. This rotation frees the ball 12 to move downwardly in the hollow passage 58 to a position between the rollers 76. Since the rollers 76 are already being rotated by the motors 74, the rollers propel the ball 12 from the hollow passage toward the batter when the ball reaches the rollers. At the same time that the ball 12 is dropping through the hollow passage 58, the next ball on the track 86 drops into the hollow passage for disposition against one of the fingers 62.

[0032]FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a preferred embodiment, generally indicated at 100, of the invention. The preferred embodiment 100 includes a switch 102 disposed on a flexible sleeve 104. The sleeve 104 may preferably be formed from an electrically insulating material and may be formed to be disposed on a finger 106 of the batter. An oscillator, generally indicated at 108, may be disposed on a band 110 which may be disposed on the wrist of the batter. The band 110 may be preferably formed from an electrically insulating material. As shown schematically in FIG. 8, the switch 102 is connected by a lead 112 to the oscillator 108 and the oscillator may be connected to an antenna 114 for transmission of the signals from the oscillator to the apparatus 10 to obtain the propulsion of an element such as the ball 12 from the apparatus toward the bat 14. The antenna 114 may preferably be disposed on the band 110 and may be electrically insulated from the switch 102 and the oscillator 108.

[0033] The embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is advantageous because the bat 14 can be retained on the batter's shoulder while the switch 102 is actuated to obtain the transmission of signals by the oscillator 108 toward the batter. This gives the batter additional time to prepare himself, and to position the bat, for striking the ball 14 propelled by the apparatus 10 toward the batter. The embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is also advantageous because the positioning of the switch 102 allows the switch to be easily manipulated.

[0034]FIG. 9 shows an arrangement in which four (4) rollers 120 and four (4) motors 122 for actuating the rollers are provided. The four (4) rollers 120 can be disposed in a quadrant relationship and in four (4) motors 122 are also disposed in a quadrant relationship. The rollers 120 correspond to the rollers 76 in FIG. 2 and the motors 122 correspond to the motors 74 in FIG. 2. The rollers 120 and the motors 122 are advantageous in that they can impose an enhanced force on the elements 12. In this way, hard balls 12 can be propelled toward the bat 14.

[0035] The apparatus described above has been disclosed with reference to a pitching machine for baseball. It is believed that a person of ordinary skill in the art will be able with little or no experimentation to adapt the apparatus for other uses. For example, it is believed that a person of ordinary skill in the art will be able to adapt the invention for use by a hockey player or for use by a lacrosse player.

[0036] Although this invention has been disclosed and illustrated with reference to particular embodiments, the principles involved are susceptible for use in numerous other embodiments which will be apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the art. The invention is, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. In combination for propelling an element, a switch carried by an individual and manually actuable between first and second states of operations, a transmitter carried by the individual and connected to the switch for transmitting signals upon the manual operation of the switch between the first and second states of operation, a propulsion mechanism displaced from the switch and the transmitter and constructed to propel the element upon actuation, and a receiver disposed in the propulsion mechanism and energizable by the signals from the transmitter for providing an actuation of the propulsion mechanism to obtain the propulsion of the element by the propulsion mechanism.
 2. In a combination as set forth in claim 1, the switch being disposed on a finger of the individual.
 3. In a combination as set forth in claim 1, the transmitter being disposed on a wrist of the individual.
 4. In a combination as set forth in claim 1, a member held by the individual for impacting the element propelled by the propulsion mechanism.
 5. In a combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein a sequence of elements are provided and wherein the propulsion mechanism is constructed to propel each successive one of the elements in the sequence upon each successive actuation of the switch between the first and second states.
 6. In a combination for use by an individual, a switch disposed on a first limb of the individual for actuation by the individual manually between first and second states, and a transmitter disposed on a second limb of the individual and connected to the switch for transmitting signals upon each actuation of the switch between the first and second states.
 7. In a combination as set forth in claim 6 wherein the switch is disposed on a finger of the individual.
 8. In a combination as set forth in claim 6 wherein the transmitter is disposed on the wrist of the individual.
 9. In a combination as set forth in claim 6 wherein a propulsion mechanism is responsive to the signals from the transmitter, and is provided with a plurality of elements, for releasing each successive one of the elements upon each reception of the signals from the transmitter and for propelling the released element to the individual.
 10. In a combination as set forth in claim 9 wherein the switch is disposed on the finger of the individual and the transmitter is disposed on the wrist of the individual.
 11. A method of propelling an element, including the steps of: manually actuating between first and second states a switch disposed on an individual's hand, actuating a transmitter on the individual's hand, in accordance with the manual actuation of the switch, to transmit signals, receiving the signals at a propulsion mechanism holding the element, and providing for the propulsion of the element from the propulsion mechanism upon the reception of the signals at the propulsion mechanism.
 12. A method as set forth in claim 11 wherein the switch is disposed on the individual's finger and wherein the transmitter is disposed in a band on the individual's wrist.
 13. A method as set forth in claim 11 wherein an antenna is electrically connected to the oscillator to transmit the signals from the oscillator to the propulsion mechanism and wherein the oscillator and the antenna are disposed on a wrist band made from an electrically insulating material.
 14. A method as set forth in claim 13 wherein the switch is disposed on electrically insulating material and one of the individual's fingers is disposed in the electrically insulating material holding the switch.
 15. A method as set forth in claim 12 wherein an antenna is electrically connected to the oscillator to transmit the signals from the oscillator to the propulsion mechanism and wherein the oscillator and the antenna are disposed on a wrist band made from an electrically insulating material and wherein the switch is disposed on electrically insulating material and one of the individual's fingers is disposed in the electrically insulating material holding the switch.
 16. A method as set forth in claim 15 wherein the propulsion mechanism holds a plurality of successive elements and wherein the propulsion mechanism propels each individual one of the successive elements toward the individual upon the reception by the propulsion mechanism of successive signals from the transmitter. 